Training a champ

Published 12:09 am, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Fusco, who has been working with Danbury's Delvin Rodriguez for the last six years, only works with those he think can be a champion.

So Fusco is none too surprised that he has spent the last eight-weeks -- or six years in wily trainer's eyes -- prepping for Saturday's IBF Welterweight Championship at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville against South Africa's Isaac Hlatshwayo.

"Delvin always had amazing talent," Fusco said last Friday at Rodriguez's training camp in the Catskills after his fighter finished up a sparring session. "But I was always most impressed by his intelligence. He wants to learn. He doesn't just want to be told what to do. He wants to be taught."

It was easy to see what Fusco meant as the pair spent the next 30 minutes following Rodriguez's last sparring session of his camp discussing what worked and what didn't.

Whether it was to jab there, deliver a cross here or sidestep quickly to safety, Fusco and his fighter touched it all.

"They've got a great relationship," Rodriguez's trainer Stan Hoffman said of Rodriguez and Fusco. "They worked together for awhile. They really trust each other."

And with good reason.

Rodriguez has won 13 of the 15 bouts he's fought with Fusco.

Over the last six years, the Hopewell Junction, N.Y., resident has been in Rodriguez's corner for his greatest triumphs, but also his most heart-breaking failures.

When Rodriguez was knocked out and lost the USBA welterweight belt to Jesse Feliciano two years ago, Fusco was there.

Fusco was there as Rodriguez won back the USBA welterweight belt in a stellar but tragic victory that left his opponent, Oscar Diaz in a coma.

"Lou and I can talk about anything," Rodriguez said. "He's a great trainer. He's always got me ready and looked after me."

And as Delvin watched in horror as Diaz was rushed to the hospital, Fusco was there to talk him down.

Months later, Fusco was again a calm voice as Rodriguez fumed after suffering what he thought was a defeat to Hlatshwayo in November.

And when the result was changed to a draw, Fusco was there to tell Rodriguez he'd get another shot at Hlatshwayo.

Rodriguez finally will on Saturday.

This time around, Fusco has worked hard with his fighter to assure he only has to celebrate with Rodriguez on Saturday.

"We've had a great camp," said Fusco, who couldn't remember how many fighters he's had battle for world titles. "We saw some things we could exploit from the last fight and some mistakes we made that we can avoid."

Fusco wouldn't say what he and Rodriguez saw, but he was quick to point out that Hlatshwayo was the only man to fall last November.

"We knocked him down (in the ninth round)," Fusco said. "We are pretty confident we can do it again."